Cigar-bunching machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. P. 0. MILLER. CIGAR BUNOHING MACHINE.

No. 416.065. Patented Nov. 26, 1889 N. PETERS, PImlo-{ilhnguphen Wishinglam 4 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

(No Model.)

F. G. MILLER.

CIGAR BUNGHINGMAGHINE. N0. 416,065. Patented NOV. 26, 1889.,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. F. U. MILLER.

01am BUNGHING MACHINE.

No. 416,065. Patented Nov. 26, 1889,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. P. G. MILLER.

CIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

No. 416,065. Patented Nov. 26, 1889'.

N PETERS. Pholn-Lilhngmpher, Washlngwn. u c,

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEICE.

FREDRICK O. MILLER, OF NEYVPORT, KENTUCKY.

ClGAR-BUNCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,065, dated November 26, 1889.

Application filed March 26, 1387- Serial No. 232,537. (No model.)

machine; and its object is to produce a ma- 3 chine in which the fillers can be bound and formed into bunches and automatically.

placed in the molds, which are automatically carried forward to receive consecutively the bunches prepared by the machine.

My invention consists in certain features of novelty, to be hereinafter fully described, and then particularly pointed out in. the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire machine. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section,partly in elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the friction-clutch stop and driving mechan- Fig. 5 is a diagram of one of the cams.

ism. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of another cam. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the third cam. Fig. 8 is a broken sectional elevation showing the operation of the machine for feeding the bunch. rack-holding device. Fig. 10 is a top plan View of the pawl-arm which engages with the rack-bar to move the mold. Fig. 11 is a detail elevation of mechanism for moving one of the jaws. Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the clutch devices on the reverse side from that shown in Fig. t. Fig. 13 is a face View of the hub c. Fig. 14: is a detail view of the jaws in open position, the dotted lines showing them in closed position. Fig. 15 is aperspective view of the table and apron, showing the fingers holding the binder on the apron.

A represents the base of the machine; B, the shell of the frame, and O the bed-plate. These parts are preferably cast in one piece, and cored so as to receive a part of the driving mechanism.

D represents the table on which the bunchrolling apron rests and rolls the cigar-bunch.

the following is a speci 9 Fig. 9 is a detail View of the 1 represents the main driving-shaft of the machine, which is suitably journaled in the shell of the frame. 2 represents the main driving-pulley keyed upon said shaft.

3 represents a cam for driving the bunchrolling mechanism.

' 4 represents a cam for operating one of the bunch-feeding jaws,which will be hereinafter described.

5 represents a cam operating the rack-holding device.

(5 represents thecain for reciprocating the rack, and I preferably drive or reciprocate the feeding-plunger by the same cam oper- I ated by a second crank mechanism.

7 represents the apron attached to the front of the table D, as shown in Fig. 2 at point a.

The apron passes over the table and into a receptacle in the top thereof, whereby a pocket 8 is formed in the apron, and thenceit passes over roll 9 and around roll 10. Roll 9 is mounted in the oscillating standards 11, fixed upon shaft 12.

Roller 10 is journaled in the table D in the rear of-pocket 8 of the apron.

13 represents a crank keyed to shaft 12.

14 represents acrank-pin or roller mounted on the end of crank 13 and traveling in the groove 15 of cam 3. This cam is shown in diagram in Fig. 5, which illustrates the rim of the cam bisected and stretched out in a horizontal plane. The oscillating standards 11, carrying the roller 9, are operated by the cam and the cranlnpin traveling in the cam groove 15. It is desirable to have this osci1- lation take place quickly and have the standards l1 stationary during a large portion of the period of revolution of shaft 1. This 05- cillation is accomplished by the obtuse or V shaped portion of the cam-groove 15, (illustrated in Fig. 5,) the standards being. stationary during the revolution of the straight portion of the path of the groove.

16 represents flexible fingers, which project rearward from their point of attachment with the table D up through slots in the apron, (see Fig. 15,) and they press on the A cigar-binder is cut in the desired shape and laid upon the apron resting on the table D.

The portion of the machine so far described operates as follows: When the cam 3 in its path of revolution arrives at the angle of divergence shown in Fig. 5, the crank-pin 14 is deflected thereby, carrying the oscillating standards 11 forward. The roller 9 doubles the apron over the filler (which has previously been placed in the pocketof the apron) and rolls itforward upon the table D, releasing the binder from the elastic fingers 16, which are compressed by said roller to permit the latter to pass beyond them and to prevent displacement of the binder until the latter is disengaged by the drawing forward of the apron. The roller and apron roll the binder around the filler in a similar manner as bunches are wrapped by hand-machines, such as shown in Letters Patent No. 344,285, granted me June 22, 1886. The bunch is then delivered or dropped by the apron between the jaws 17 18, which are constructed as fol lows:

.19 represents an open U-shaped extension of the table D,to which the jaw 18 is securely attached. Jaw 17 is pivoted to eXtension19 by means of oscillating arms 20 and studs 21, which project out from each side of the extension 1-9.

22 represents anoscillating arm j ournaled upon shaft 23, which projects from the shell of the frame, to which is keyed arm 24, that projects up and engages with the lower end of one of. the arms 20, which projects down below the pivot 21 of jaw 17. As the arm 24 is oscillated forward the jaw 17 is closed or oscillated backward to inclose the bunch between it and its counterpart jaw 18. The jaws 17 18 are respectively movable and fixed, so that the former is flared or inclined with relation to jaw 18 when they are in their open condition, and serve as a guide to the bunches to direct them properly into the matrices, of the mold E, placed underneath at the mouth or opening of the passage between the jaws. The faces of the jaws are concaved to conform to the shape of a cigar.

In order that the bunch may be properly directed and passed quickly into a matrix 6 of the cigar-mold E, I provide the following mechanism:

26 represents upright bars of a verticallyreciprocating frame. 27 represents a yoke connecting the tops of these bars 26.

28 represents a plunger, the under side of which is preferably gained to fit the shape of the cigar, and it is passed or driven down through the opening between the jaws 17 18 by the following mechanism:

29 represents a shaft j ournaled in the shell of the frame. It projects through the frame on both sides, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, upon the ends of which shaft are keyed oscillating arms 30. This shaft 29 is turned by means of the cam 6 and the'arm 31, carrying a crank- 'into one of the matrices of the mold E.

pin 32, traveling in a groove 33 of cam 6. This cam is of the same shape as cam 3, (illustrated in Fig. 5,) so that the crank-pin 32 is idle during a portion of its revolution, but moves rapidly forward and backward during the other portion of its revolution, thereby quickly turning the shaft 29 and oscillating arms 30, to the forked ends of which are hinged the links 34, that are in turn pivoted to ears 35, keyed to the vertically reciprocating bars 26, so that the revolution of cam 6, keyed upon the main shaft 1, at the proper time quickly carries the plunger 28 between the jaws in its downward reciprocation and quickly returns it back to position for a second operation by one revolution of the main shaft, in which position it is held during that period of time in which the bunch is being rolled and delivered to the jaws. The jaw 17 drops back to flaring position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 14, as soon as the arm 24 is disengaged from one of the oscillating arms 20 thereof by the shaft 23, both jaws then having the opening between them flaring a sufficient period of time to allow the bunch to'be delivered, at the end of which time said rod 24 brings the jaw17 back, simultaneously with which plunger 28 operates to force the bunch from between the jaws Thus a hunch is automatically placed in one of the matrices of the mold.

It is desirable to have the mold held rigidly in position, so that the bunch may be properly delivered into the first mold. It is important that a matrix e should be accurately aligned under the opening of the jaws, so that the plunger will not wear or engage against the edges of the mold and thereby injure them, which would affect the shape of the bunch formed in the matrix.

In order to align and hold the mold in position and to feed it automatically forward by the operation of the machine, I have devised the following mechanism:

36 represents a reciprocating rack-bar upon which the mold E rests. The mold is held in position by means of a pin 37, that projects up from the rack-bar into the dowel-hole in the mold. This rack-bar fits in a dovetailed gain cut in the bed-plate O at the top of the machine, which gain forms ways in the bedplate in which the rack-bar slides back and forth.

The moving and holding devices are pref- IIO This pawl-arm is provided with an inclined tooth 45, which engages in the notches (Z on the under side of the rack-bar 36. This pawlarm 46 is bent down and extended forward through an opening formed in the frame, as shown in Fig. 2. This allows the arm 39 to be moved down to release the dog engaging with the rack-bar 36 to allow the mold to be shifted or set in position to be automatically operated by the machine and to allow the insertion and removal of the mold from the machine.

The rod 42 is normally held in position by the slotted bracket 47, which is provided with ears 48, to hold it at the under side of the bed-plate. This rod projects down through said bracket and carries the cam-yoke 49, which in turn carries crank-pin 50, that moves against the face of cam 5. The shape of this cam is shown in Fig. 6.

51 represents a spiral spring wound around the 10d 42, so as to automatically return it after it has been tripped or depressed by cam 5, which occurs when the face of the cam is in engagement with the crank-pin 50. As soon as the crank-pin has passed over this face the spring 51 returns the rod back into engagement with a notch cl of the rackbar 36.

The relations of the rack-n1oving devices 31 38 39 45 and the depression of the rod 42 to release the rack-bar are such that the rackbarholding devices are stationary while the plunger 28 is operating to feed a bunch into a matrix Q of the mold, and the rack-barmoving devices are in operation simultaneously with the operation of the plungermoving mechanism, but are so adjusted that the mold is brought with its matrix into alignment just before the plunger 28 has arrived at the point of discharging the bunch into the matrix.

It is obvious that the number and position of the cams could be variously changed; but I have shown and described the preferred form of constructing and arranging these parts, whereby they operate consecutively and in unison to roll the bunch, deliver it between the jaws, with the plunger passing between the jaws after they are closed, forcing it into a matrix of a cigar-mold, which is rigidly held in position at the right time and is automatically moved forward to receive the next bunch by the operation of the machine, as herein described.

It is essential in cigar-bunching machines to have the mechanism instantly started, so that the consecutive motions of the different parts may be made at, the proper time to have these devices coact with each other to roll and deliver the bunch into the mold, to align the mold and hold it under the orifice between the jaws, and to move it forward for a second operation in exact time and without loss of time. The operator will sometimes make a bunch more rapidly than at other times; but when ready it is necessary that the several motions be carried out consecutively. Hence I have provided a tripping device to instantly start the machine, and an automatic catch for stopping the motion of the machine as soon as one revolution is completed, thereby bringing all the parts into proper position for a second operation. This stopping and starting mechanism consists of the transmitter-pulley 53, journaledin. the oscillating frame 51.

59 represents the face of the frictional pulley keyed upon the shaft of pulley 2 by means of the spring 60.

represents a lug upon the rim of pulley 2.

56 represents a catch attached to a collar 1, carrying a pin .9, engaging in slot rot the hub o, mounted upon the shaft of pulley 53; and 7% represents a spring attached to the oscillating frame 54, its free end resting upon the catch 56 for bringing it back to its normal position for engagement with lug 55, so that when the main shaft 1 has made one revolution the lug 55 is brought into contact with the catch 56, which pushes away the frictional pulley 59 from contact with pulley 2 by the movement of the oscillating frame 54, which is journaled on the center 61, thus stopping the machine. The machine is started by means of a foot-lever 62, engaging under the catch 56. This lever is pivoted to the main frame on the stud 63. hen pressure is applied to the foot-piece 647 it moves the catchpiece 56 up, releasing it from its engagement with the lug 55, when the spring 60 will instantlybring the frictional face 59 in contact with the face of pulley 2 and start the machine.

In order that the apron 7 maybe tightened or loosened, I provide the following instrum entalities:

represents the bearings in which the roller 10 journals, the roller-apron 7 being fastened around the latter. 66 represents a worm-pinion keyed upon one end of said shaft.

67 represents a worm-shaft meshing with the pinion 66.

68 represents a head on the end of the Wormshaft 67. The shaft 67 is journaled in ears 69, attached to the main frame D. By turning the worm-shaft 67 the roller 10 is turned either forward or backward by the engagement of the worm with the worm-pinion to shorten or lengthen the apron.

In order that the filler may be held from moving laterally and guided so that it will be properly started when the apron commences to roll it, I have provided the following devices:

g represents a gage or abutment piece, which has a convex swell placed in one end of the recess in the table. 70 represents a ledge on the side of the table opposite to the gage, also provided with a convex swell, which is placed in the other end of the recess in the table, and this ledge is raised sufficiently high to form a guide, against which one end of the incomplete bunch abuts. The filler occupies when placed in the pocket of the apron a position between the swelled end of ledge and the gage g. This ledge 70 guides the point of the incomplete bunch so as to bring it into alignment with the point of the matrix of the mold when it is delivered to it complete from between the jaws.

71 represents a tie-rod connected to the oscillating standards 11, between which and the face of the roller 9 the apron passes. This tie-rod holds the apron in position and prevents it from being caught by the plunger in its downward movement when the bunch is delivered to the jaws as it withdraws the apron from them.

In order to adjust the mold to the rack-bar, I cut a gain in the top of the rack-bar and insert in it the carrying-strip 73, which is held in position by the screw-rod 72 passing through a depending flange thereon, the point of which screw taps into the rack'bar. By turning the screw-rod 72 to move the strip 73 the cigarmold, attached to the latter by the dowel-pin, moves backward or forward, so as to make an accurate alignment with the opening between the jaws.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination of the bunch-forming mechanism, a fixed jaw, an opposed movable jaw pivoted thereto, said jaws being adapted to receive the bunch between them, a plunger working between said jaws, and mechanism for consecutively and periodically operating the bunch-forming mechanism, plunger, and movable jaw, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cigar-bunch machine, the intermittingly-moving bar provided with a dowel-pin for holding the mold, and mechanism for adjusting the said dowel-pin longitudinally on said bar, wherebythe alignment of the matrices to the bunch-feeding mechanism is obtained. I

3. In a cigar-bunch machine, the intermittingly-moving bar provided with a fastening longitudinally adjustable on said bar for holding the mold and aligning its matrices to the bunch-feeding mechanism.

t. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination of the table and apron secured thereto,

oscillating standards, a roller and tie-rod on said standards, between which the apron passes, said roller operating on the apron to form abunch, guiding-jaws respectively fixed and movable, to which the bunch is delivered by the apron and roller, a plunger for forcing the bunch from the jaws, said tie-rod preventing the apron being caught by the plunger, as explained, and mechanism for operating the oscillating standards and the roller, movable jaw, and plunger, substantially as set forth.

5. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination, with the bunch-rolling mechanism, a

ically operating said devices, consisting of I the main driving-shaft, a series of cams on said shaft, one cam for each device, and cranks suitably connected with said devices and adapted to be operated on by said cams,substantially as set forth.

7. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combina tion, with the table, apron thereon, bunchguiding jaws, and plunger for dischargingthe bunch from said jaws, of the main drivingshaft 1, cam 3 thereon, transverse shaft 12, crank 13, having a rollcrl l, adapted to travel in the cam-groove, oscillating standards 11 at the ends of shaft 12, and roller 9, at the top of said standards, for operating on said apron, substantially as set forth.

8. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination, with the bunch-rolling mechanism and the guiding-jaws, of a plunger having operating mechanism consistin of main drivingshaft 1, cam 6 thereon iaving groove 33, crank 31, having pin 32 traveling in said groove, transverse shaft 29, on which said crank is secured, oscillating arms 30 at each end of said shaft, links 34:, pivoted at the free ends of arms 30, and reciprocating bars 26, for carrying the plunger and to which said links are pivoted through the medium of ears 35, substantially as set forth.

9. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination, with the bunch-rolling mechanism and plunger for discharging the bunch into a matrix of the mold, of a fixed jaw 18 19, jaw 17, pivoted thereto and having downwardlyextending arms 20, said jaws forming a guide for the bunch and between which the plunger operates, and mechanism for engaging one of the arms of jaw 17 and bringing it toward the other jaw, substantially as set forth.

10. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination, with the bun ch-rollin g mechanism and plunger for discharging the bunch into a matrix of the mold, of a fixed jaw 18 19, jaw 17, pivoted thereto and having downwardlyextending arms 20, said jaws forming a guide for the bunch and between which the plunger operates, and mechanism for operating the pivoted jaw, consisting of main driving-shaft 1, cam 4 thereon, transverse shaft 23, crank 22 thereon adapted to bear upon the face of said cam, and oscillating arm 24, keyed to shaft 23, adapted to strike the downwardlyextending arms 20 of jaw 17, substantially as set forth.

,- 11. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combt nation of the bunch-rollin g mechanism, mechanism for delivering the bunch to one of the matrices of the mold, a rack-bar having a gain in its top, a mold 011 said rack-bar, an adjustable strip received by said gain and having a dowfel-pin thereon to secure the mold, and a holding and feeding device having suitable operating mechanism and adapted to engage said rack-bar, whereby it is antomatically operated, substantially as set forth.

12. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination of the bunch-rolling mechanism, mechanism for delivering the bunch to one of the matrices of the mold, a rack-bar having a gain in its top, a mold on said rack-bar, an adjusting device for said mold, consisting of strip 7 3, received by said gain and having a downturned flange, and a screw-rod 7 2, adapted to pass through said flange and to screw into the rack-bar, and a holding and feeding device having suitable operating mechanism and adapted to engage said rack-bar, whereby it is automatically operated, substantially as set forth.

13. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination, with the bunch-rolling mechanism, mechanism for delivering the bunch to one of the matrices of the mold, rack-bar, and mold mounted thereon, of the rack-moving device consisting, essentially, of the main shaft, cam 6 thereon having groove 33, crank 31, transverse shaft 29, crank-arm 38, keyed on the latter, horizontal arm 39, pivoted to the top of arm 38 and provided with a pawl 45, adapted to engage the teeth of the rack-bar, an eX- tension 46 for disengaging the pawl from the rack-bar, and a stopping device for said rackbar, adapted to support arm 39 and operated by suitable means, substantially as set forth.

14. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination, with the bunch-rolling mechanism, mechanism for delivering the bunch to one of the matrices of the mold, a rack-bar, and mold mounted thereon, of a suitable rackmoving device operating to hold any one of the matrices of the mold in alignment with the place of delivery of the bunch, consisting, essentially, of the main shaft, cam 5 thereon, cam-yoke 49, having crank-pin 50, which moves against the face of cam 5, rod 42, extending upwardly from said yoke and adapted to engage the teeth of the rack-bar, bracket 47, for holding the rod 42 in position, and a spring adapted to automatically retract the latter after it-has been tripped or depressed by cam 5, substantially as set forth.

15. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination, with the bunch-rolling mechanism, and mechanism for delivering the bunch to one of the matrices of the mold, of a rackbar having the mold mounted thereon, rackmoving mechanism consisting of a slotted pawl-arm, pawl thereon, and mechanism for engaging said .pawl with. the rack-teeth at suitable periods, a bracket in the top of the machine, a spring-retracted reciprocating rod mounted in said bracket, adapted to pass through the slot in said pawl-arm and engage and hold one of the matrices of. the mold in alignment with the place of delivery of the bunch, and suitable mechanism for reciprocating said rod at intervals, substantially as set forth.

16. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination, with the bunch-rolling. mechanism and mechanism for delivering the bunch to one of the matrices ofthe mold, of a reciprocating rack-bar having the mold mounted thereon and moved by suitable means, anda spring-retracted rod reciprocated bysuitable means, substantially as set forth.

17. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination of the mold-moving mechanism and its driving-cam (3, with the stopping mechanism consisting, essentially, of holdingrod 42, mounted in a fixed portion of the machine, cam 5, whereby it is intermittingly operated, rack-bar 36, with the teeth of which the rod 42 engages, and the main driving-shaft on which said cams are fixed, substantially as set forth.

18. In a cigar-bunch machine, the combination of the. rolling-table D, provided with an' opening, suitable mechanism for rolling the bunch, the gage g, and ledge 70, having a depending convex swell entering said opening or receptacle, between which and gage g the filler is confined and against which ledge the bunch is held in the operation of rolling, substantially as set forth.

19. In a cigar-bunch machine, the comblnation of the bed-plate O and intermittingly-' moving rack, the bunch-guiding jaws, springretracted holding-rod, and a carrying-pawl suitably connected with the main drivingshaft, whereby the mold is carried to position under the bunch-guiding jaws independently of the movement of the holding-rod, substantially as set forth.

20. In combination with a machine having.

its pulley on the main driving-shaft provided with a peripheral lug having an inclined face,

a tripping device adapted to engage said lug for instantly starting and stopping the machine at a given point, substantially as set forth.

21. In combination with a machine having its pulley on the main driving-shaft provided with a lug, an automatic tripping device consisting, essentially, of an oscillating frame, a shaft mounted therein, a friction-roller on the latter adapted to be held into engagement with the pulley 011 the main driving-shaft by suitable means, a trip or catch on the oscillating frame-shaft held normally in engagement wit-h the lug on the aforesaid pulley by suitable means, and means for disengaging the trip from the lug, substantially as set forth.

22. In combination with a machine having its pulley on the main driving-shaft provided with a peripheral lug, a tripping device consisting, essentially, of an oscillating frame, a shaft mounted therein, a friction-roller on the latter adapted to be held into engagement with said pulley by suitable means, a catch loosely mounted on the oscillating frameshaft, a spring for holding it normally in e11- gagement with the lug on the aforesaid pulley, and a lever pivoted to the frame of the machine adapted to engage said catch for dis engaging it from said lug for starting the machine, substantially as set forth.

23. In combination with a machine having its pulley on the main driving-shaft provided with a peripheral lug, a tripping device consisting, essentially, of hub 1*, havinga groove "r, collar 25, having a pin adapted to engage said groove, catch 56 thereon, a shaft on which said devices are mounted, friction-roller on said shaft, adapted to be held into engagement with the aforesaid pulley by suitable means, a spring for holding said catch normally in engagement with said lug, and means for disengaging the catch from the lug, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

i FREDRICK O. MILLER. Vitnesses:

CHARLES THEODORE GREVE, W. DU BRUL. 

